OCR

THE MASKED MATADOR. 29
tgns
was half-starved; at the cowardly panther,
that shrank into the darkest corners, and at
ltlllie shouts and jeers of the disappointed pop-
ace.
My friends assured me, however, that this
was to be no such humbug.
Seville might boast of her pretty dames
and beautiful situation, but when it came
to a genuine bull-fight, about which there
was no humbug, it took Madrid to step to
the front.
Of course I believed them, and proceeded
to make ready to accompany mine host and
h.s prett daughter to the arena.
To ad to the zest of the entertainment,
we were to be amused by an unknown mata-
dor, who was to appear under a mask, and
this halo of mystery served to take many a
maiden and cavalier to the place.
A masked matador!
The very thought was suggestive of strange
revelations, and if there is anything a Span-
iard likes it is mystery.
This was proven, centuries ago, by the
persistency with which they clun to that
relic of the dark ages, the Inquisition.
It was a beautiful day that we started
for the place where the bull-fight was to oc-
cur.
Iwas astonished at the importance such an
event seemed to bear among the good folks
of Madrid.
Stores were closed‘, flags daunting in the
air, and people walking the streets in their
holiday attire.
One would naturallysuppose some great
festival was on the tapas, and the ‘idea of a
buugight causing such a commotion would
have been ludicrous to me but for the fact
that 1 had several times witnessed the ad-
vent of a circus in an American village. and
knew how the honest, but illiterate country
folks flocked to see it. . , I
When we had entered the pavilion was
somewhat taken aback by the sea of faces
that could be seen. I
There were thousands present. f0!’ POP“ :1"
prices ruled the hour. and the fact.that t e
hero of the day was masked and might turn
out in the end to be some noble who. did not
want himself known, proved a rich card for
the entertainment.
Allof Madrid’s fairest daughters and most
Valiant sons seemed to have Kemered “P0”
this occasion. , . . ..
At the end of the pavilion. 119011 5 ,““.9ed
dais, were seated several court d18Dll3'
ries. b t
The young king had been expected, 1:),
Owing to some cause, he was not able to by
[“l'esent,and had sent some one to occupy . '5
P ace. .
Thus were we cheated out of a Klll1l‘P3,9 0g
royalty, for Alphonse. the successfu . "'9
Of Don Carlos. was deemed a NY“ “"3 1:"
Wt-i'y sense of the word, D0)‘ “‘‘’“5h 9
W83.
Our attention was soon engrossed with
what was transpiring in the arena, and we
forgot to look around upon the bright audi-
ence that presented a bewildering maze of
happy, expectant faces.
A long gong sounded, making the nervous '
ones jump wildly.
This was the signal that the sport was
about to commence, and instantly all was
silent.
Being of an observant nature, I looked
around at this juncture to note the expres-
sion of expectancy that was written so
lainly upon every face that my eyes sought.
l’was amusing myself in this innocent man-
ner when a terrible bellow sounded through
the place.
Glancing quickly down into the arena,I
saw a black bull rush into view from out of
a doorway, which was immediately closed
behind him.
Such a wicked brute I had never seen be-
fore.
“C'a1-ramba! we shall see some hot work,
senor."
, So said my host, and I took his word for
it.
Indeed, it hardly needed experience to see
that Taurus was a fierce fellow, who would
scare a picador half to death when he came
rushing at him.
At another signal the pieadora made their
appearance, some on horseback and others
on foot.
The former carried lances, and their ob-
iilect was to torment the bull without killing
im.
-Somehow or other. it chanced that the
tables were turned, for to me it seemed as
though the bull was tormenting them.
Those who were on foot carried red flags,
which they were to flaunt in the face of
Taurus in order to enrage him, and then
leap nimbly to one side when he started for-
ward.
It was comical to us-who were in com-
parative safety-to see the picadorn on foot
slinging away whenever the bull Ill.’ nod his
hea .
Pretty soon the bull tired of chasm; zliese
fellows and turned his attention in the
mounted men. .
In less than two minutes one of these
worthies had been hurled into the lllltllt,‘DCe,
his horse gored to death, and the bu.l in par-
suit of the other mounted men.
Around the arena he chased them at fu‘.‘:
s eed.
At last, as if disdaining such cowardly
foes, he came to a pause, and the two pica-
dors passed through the door that was
0 ened for them in a hurry, amid the hisses
of) the assembled multitude, who now fav-
ored the fierce bull.
Silence once more ensued.
The black brute stood over the body of
the slain horse, evidently watching for some